Dell's $99 Smartphone

By CIOinsight |
Posted 08-25-2010

The Dell Aero is now available on the AT&T network, Dell announced Aug. 24. The smartphone, which Dell calls its first in the United States, runs version 1.6 of Google's Android mobile operating system, also known as "Donut." It is priced at $100 with a two-year AT&T contract, or $300, via the Dell Website without a contract.

The launch of the Aero follows the Aug. 13 debut of the Dell Streak a "hybrid" device that in size and pricing is something of a large smartphone or a small tablet. The Streak is also available on the AT&T network, or unlocked at an unsubsidized price. With the Aero, however, there's no second-guessing - it's a smartphone all the way. announced Aug. 24. The smartphone, which Dell is calling its first in the United States, runs version 1.6 of Google's Android mobile operating system, also known as "Donut." It's priced at $100 with a two-year AT&T contract, or $300, via the Dell Website without a contract.

Dell has packed in the features usually arriving on phones at twice the price. The 3G-running Aero supports quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz) and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA (850/1900/2100MHz) networks. There's also WiFi connectivity - users going for the AT&T contract will receive "free" access to the carrier's 20,000-plus hotspots - as well as Bluetooth, GPS and assisted GPS.

The launch of the Aero follows the Aug. 13 debut of the Dell Streak - a "hybrid" device that in size and pricing is something of a large smartphone or a small tablet. The Streak is also available on the AT&T network, or unlocked at an unsubsidized price. With the Aero, however, there's no second-guessing - it's a smartphone all the way.